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This paper investigates the transformation challenges related to incumbent industries caused by technology development and industry convergence in the transition to a bioeconomy in the context of Swedish biorefinery development. It involves the emergence of new value chains and several incumbent industries such as the pulp and paper industry, the oil refinery sector, the chemical process industry, and the heat and power sector. In 2019, Sweden had Europe's largest share of biofuels in the transport sector, roughly 20% on an energy basis, and this share has increased by around 300% during the last decade. At the same time, domestic production has stalled, and even though Sweden has beneficial conditions for biofuel production, the share of biofuel that is imported or based on imported feedstock has recently ranged between 85% and 90%. We discuss three transformation challenges: (i) inertia and lack of absorptive capacity creating lock-in effects at the organizational level; (ii) weak and inefficient actor networks at the industry level; and (iii) contradictory policy instrument mixes and lack of coordination at the government level. The findings underscore the need for policy integration and alignment across various policy domains, and an increased focus on policy mixes that can stimulate the emergence of more disruptive innovations and value chains. There is also a need for industrial initiatives, such as improving absorptive capacity and strengthening actor networks, to help build the value chains needed to realize a sustainable bioeconomy. 2021 The Authors. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining published by Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Johanna Mossberg; Patrik Söderholm; Johan Frishammar. Challenges of sustainable industrial transformation: S wedish biorefinery development and incumbents in the emerging biofuels industry. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleJohanna Mossberg, Patrik Söderholm, Johan Frishammar. Challenges of sustainable industrial transformation: S wedish biorefinery development and incumbents in the emerging biofuels industry. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJohanna Mossberg; Patrik Söderholm; Johan Frishammar. 2021. "Challenges of sustainable industrial transformation: S wedish biorefinery development and incumbents in the emerging biofuels industry." Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining , no. : 1.
The paper analyzes the prerequisites for a regulatory-driven transition toward radically lower air and water pollution in industry. This is achieved in the empirical context of the Swedish mining and metals industry, and by investigating the environmental licensing processes during two regulatory systems. The paper derives an analytical framework that explores under what circumstances such licensing processes can result in radical emissions reductions without seriously jeopardizing the competitiveness of the industry. Archived material covering six environmental licensing processes, three during each system, is used to illustrate the various design and implementation issues. The results suggest that regulatory-driven green transitions benefit from trust-based bargaining procedures in which companies are involved in repeated interactions with regulatory authorities, and which extended probation periods permit tests of novel abatement technologies (including innovation). The findings also illustrate the importance of abstaining from simplified normative notions about policy instrument choice (e.g. taxes versus standards).
Patrik Söderholm; Ann-Kristin Bergquist; Maria Pettersson; Kristina Söderholm. The political economy of industrial pollution control: environmental regulation in Swedish industry for five decades. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 2021, 1 -32.
AMA StylePatrik Söderholm, Ann-Kristin Bergquist, Maria Pettersson, Kristina Söderholm. The political economy of industrial pollution control: environmental regulation in Swedish industry for five decades. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 2021; ():1-32.
Chicago/Turabian StylePatrik Söderholm; Ann-Kristin Bergquist; Maria Pettersson; Kristina Söderholm. 2021. "The political economy of industrial pollution control: environmental regulation in Swedish industry for five decades." Journal of Environmental Planning and Management , no. : 1-32.
Although the climate challenge requires proactive policies that spur innovation in the renewable energy sector, various countries commit vastly different levels of support for renewable energy R&D. This paper addresses the question why this may be the case. Specifically, the objective is to analyse the determinants of government support to renewable energy R&D in the European Union (EU), and, in doing this, we devote particular attention to the question of whether the level of this support tends to converge or diverge across EU Member States. The investigation relies on a data set of 12 EU Member States and a bias-corrected dynamic panel data estimator. We test for the presence of conditional β-convergence, and the impacts of energy dependence and electricity regulation on government R&D efforts. The findings display divergence in terms of government support to renewable energy R&D, and this result is robust across various model specifications and key assumptions. The analysis also indicates that countries with a low energy-import dependence and deregulated electricity markets tend to experience lower growth rates in government renewable energy R&D. The paper ends by discussing some implications of the results, primarily from an EU perspective.
Jonas Grafström; Patrik Söderholm; Erik Gawel; Paul Lehmann; Sebastian Strunz. Government support to renewable energy R&D: drivers and strategic interactions among EU Member States. Economics of Innovation and New Technology 2020, 1 -24.
AMA StyleJonas Grafström, Patrik Söderholm, Erik Gawel, Paul Lehmann, Sebastian Strunz. Government support to renewable energy R&D: drivers and strategic interactions among EU Member States. Economics of Innovation and New Technology. 2020; ():1-24.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJonas Grafström; Patrik Söderholm; Erik Gawel; Paul Lehmann; Sebastian Strunz. 2020. "Government support to renewable energy R&D: drivers and strategic interactions among EU Member States." Economics of Innovation and New Technology , no. : 1-24.
This article provides a sectoral innovation system perspective of the development of energy efficient and clean process technologies in the Swedish pulp and paper industry. Specifically, the analysis elaborates the importance of knowledge development, actor networks, and institutions (including policy) for progressing and diffusing novel technologies related to energy use. The empirical analysis also sheds light on how significant changes in the sectoral innovation system have influenced the relevant research, development and demonstration activities in the Swedish pulp and paper industry over the period 1970–2010. The results are based on various sources—e.g., industry magazines, reports from industrial consultants and associations, minutes from meetings—and illustrate the importance of well-functioning innovation systems for successful technological development and diffusion processes. They display, in particular, the importance of joint, industry-wide R&D activities, trust-based state—industry relationships, government R&D expenditures, and intense information sharing. One important implication is that the role of policy stretches beyond the funding of basic R&D. Policy also involves measures that strengthen existing actor networks, build competence, and secure the existence of research institutes that provide a bridge between basic knowledge generation (at the universities) on the one hand, and industrial application on the other.
Kristina Söderholm; Patrik Söderholm. Industrial Energy Transitions and the Dynamics of Innovation Systems: The Swedish Pulp and Paper Industry, 1970–2010. Environments 2020, 7, 70 .
AMA StyleKristina Söderholm, Patrik Söderholm. Industrial Energy Transitions and the Dynamics of Innovation Systems: The Swedish Pulp and Paper Industry, 1970–2010. Environments. 2020; 7 (9):70.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKristina Söderholm; Patrik Söderholm. 2020. "Industrial Energy Transitions and the Dynamics of Innovation Systems: The Swedish Pulp and Paper Industry, 1970–2010." Environments 7, no. 9: 70.
Biofuels and biochemicals play significant roles in the transition towards a fossil-free society. However, large-scale biorefineries are not yet cost-competitive with their fossil-fuel counterparts, and it is important to identify biorefinery concepts with high economic performance. For evaluating early-stage biorefinery concepts, one needs to consider not only the technical performance and process costs but also the economic performance of the full supply chain and the impacts on feedstock and product markets. This article presents and demonstrates a conceptual interdisciplinary framework that can constitute the basis for evaluations of the full supply-chain performance of biorefinery concepts. This framework considers the competition for biomass across sectors, assumes exogenous end-use product demand, and incorporates various geographical and technical constraints. The framework is demonstrated empirically through a case study of a sawmill-integrated biorefinery producing liquefied biomethane from forestry and forest industry residues. The case study results illustrate that acknowledging biomass market effects in the supply chain evaluation implies changes in both biomass prices and the allocation of biomass across sectors. The proposed framework should facilitate the identification of biorefinery concepts with a high economic performance which are robust to feedstock price changes caused by the increase in biomass demand.
Jonas Zetterholm; Elina Bryngemark; Johan Ahlström; Patrik Söderholm; Simon Harvey; Elisabeth Wetterlund. Economic Evaluation of Large-Scale Biorefinery Deployment: A Framework Integrating Dynamic Biomass Market and Techno-Economic Models. Sustainability 2020, 12, 7126 .
AMA StyleJonas Zetterholm, Elina Bryngemark, Johan Ahlström, Patrik Söderholm, Simon Harvey, Elisabeth Wetterlund. Economic Evaluation of Large-Scale Biorefinery Deployment: A Framework Integrating Dynamic Biomass Market and Techno-Economic Models. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (17):7126.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJonas Zetterholm; Elina Bryngemark; Johan Ahlström; Patrik Söderholm; Simon Harvey; Elisabeth Wetterlund. 2020. "Economic Evaluation of Large-Scale Biorefinery Deployment: A Framework Integrating Dynamic Biomass Market and Techno-Economic Models." Sustainability 12, no. 17: 7126.
Biofuels and biochemicals play significant roles in the transition towards a fossil-free society. However, large-scale biorefineries are not yet cost-competitive with their fossil-fuel counterparts, and it is important to identify biorefinery concepts with high economic performance. For evaluating early-stage biorefinery concepts, one needs to consider not only the technical performance and process costs but also the economic performance of the full supply chain and the impacts on feedstock and product markets. This article presents and demonstrates a conceptual interdisciplinary framework that can constitute the basis for evaluations of the full supply-chain performance of biorefinery concepts. This framework considers the competition for biomass across sectors, assumes exogenous end-use product demand, and incorporates various geographical and technical constraints. The framework is demonstrated empirically through a case study of a sawmill-integrated biorefinery producing liquefied biomethane from forestry and forest industry residues. The case study results illustrate that acknowledging biomass market effects in the supply chain evaluation implies changes in both biomass prices and the allocation of biomass across sectors. The proposed framework should facilitate the identification of biorefinery concepts with a high economic performance which are robust to feedstock price changes caused by the increase in biomass demand.
Jonas Zetterholm; Elina Bryngemark; Johan Ahlström; Patrik Söderholm; Simon Harvey; Elisabeth Wetterlund. Economic Evaluation of Large-Scale Biorefinery Deployment: A Framework Integrating Dynamic Biomass Market and Techno-Economic Models. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleJonas Zetterholm, Elina Bryngemark, Johan Ahlström, Patrik Söderholm, Simon Harvey, Elisabeth Wetterlund. Economic Evaluation of Large-Scale Biorefinery Deployment: A Framework Integrating Dynamic Biomass Market and Techno-Economic Models. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJonas Zetterholm; Elina Bryngemark; Johan Ahlström; Patrik Söderholm; Simon Harvey; Elisabeth Wetterlund. 2020. "Economic Evaluation of Large-Scale Biorefinery Deployment: A Framework Integrating Dynamic Biomass Market and Techno-Economic Models." , no. : 1.
The Green Economy is an alternative vision for growth and development; one that can generate economic development and improvements in people’s lives in ways consistent with advancing also environmental and social well-being. One significant component of a green economy strategy is to promote the development and adoption of sustainable technologies. The overall objective of this article is to discuss a number of challenges encountered when pursuing sustainable technological change, and that need to be properly understood by policy makers and professionals at different levels in society. We also identify some avenues for future research. The discussions center on five challenges: (a) dealing with diffuse – and ever more global – environmental risks; (b) achieving radical and not just incremental sustainable technological change; (c) green capitalism and the uncertain business-as-usual scenario; (d) the role of the state and designing appropriate policy mixes; and (e) dealing with distributional concerns and impacts. The article argues that sustainable technological change will require a re-assessment of the roles of the private industry and the state, respectively, and that future research should increasingly address the challenges of identifying and implementing novel policy instrument combinations in various institutional contexts.
Patrik Söderholm. The green economy transition: the challenges of technological change for sustainability. Sustainable Earth 2020, 3, 1 -11.
AMA StylePatrik Söderholm. The green economy transition: the challenges of technological change for sustainability. Sustainable Earth. 2020; 3 (1):1-11.
Chicago/Turabian StylePatrik Söderholm. 2020. "The green economy transition: the challenges of technological change for sustainability." Sustainable Earth 3, no. 1: 1-11.
The purpose of this paper is to analyze and compare the impacts of land-use policies on wind power deployment at the regional levels in Germany and Sweden. We use data for the period 2008–2012, and an econometric approach in which the probability of having any wind power capacity additions and the actual level of increased capacity, given that it is positive, are permitted to be determined by different processes. The results confirm the importance of land-use policies, e.g., priority and exclusion areas, and interesting differences across the two countries are found. The impact of priority areas has been more profound in Germany, while the assignment of protected areas instead has constituted a more binding policy tool in Sweden. Cross-country differences in the relevance of various explanatory variables are linked to factors such as geographical patterns, design of wind power support schemes, and the allocation of decision-making power in planning processes.
Thomas Lauf; Kristina Ek; Erik Gawel; Paul Lehmann; Patrik Söderholm. The regional heterogeneity of wind power deployment: an empirical investigation of land-use policies in Germany and Sweden. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 2019, 63, 751 -778.
AMA StyleThomas Lauf, Kristina Ek, Erik Gawel, Paul Lehmann, Patrik Söderholm. The regional heterogeneity of wind power deployment: an empirical investigation of land-use policies in Germany and Sweden. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 2019; 63 (4):751-778.
Chicago/Turabian StyleThomas Lauf; Kristina Ek; Erik Gawel; Paul Lehmann; Patrik Söderholm. 2019. "The regional heterogeneity of wind power deployment: an empirical investigation of land-use policies in Germany and Sweden." Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 63, no. 4: 751-778.
An increased understanding of the existing markets for recycled (secondary) metals, including interactions with virgin material production, is essential for public decision-making processes concerning the implementation and evaluation of different categories of recycling policies. In this paper, we review the existing literature with the purpose of discussing (1) the impacts of various recycling policies on metal markets in which aggregate demand can be met by both primary and secondary production, and (2) a number of challenges that policy-makers need to confront in choosing between various types of recycling policies and policy designs. A simple partial equilibrium model is used as a pedagogical tool for shedding light on the impacts of tradable recycling credits, virgin material taxes, and recycling subsidies. In a second step, the paper identifies and discusses a few key challenges that policy-makers will need to address in recycling policy-making. These challenges include improving the functioning of secondary material markets by addressing various non-environmental market inefficiencies; identifying and designing (second-best) policy mixes due to the presence of incomplete monitoring and enforcement of waste disposal behavior, and regulating environmental impacts through price- or quantity-based policies. Throughout the analysis, we consult the empirical literature on the functioning of scrap metal markets (e.g., steel, copper, and aluminum).
Patrik Söderholm; Tomas Ekvall. Metal markets and recycling policies: impacts and challenges. Mineral Economics 2019, 33, 257 -272.
AMA StylePatrik Söderholm, Tomas Ekvall. Metal markets and recycling policies: impacts and challenges. Mineral Economics. 2019; 33 (1-2):257-272.
Chicago/Turabian StylePatrik Söderholm; Tomas Ekvall. 2019. "Metal markets and recycling policies: impacts and challenges." Mineral Economics 33, no. 1-2: 257-272.
The objectives of the paper are to: (a) derive and discuss indicators of industrial companies’ decision-making and management practices on energy use; and (b) investigate whether these practices can help explain variations in energy intensities across these companies. The data were collected through telephone interviews with 101 large industrial firms in Sweden. The indicators display a significant overall increase in firms’ awareness of energy efficiency issues over time, including the attention devoted to these issues at the top management level. Still, our econometric results show that energy prices constitute the most important determinant of inter-firm differences in energy intensities. Higher energy prices over the time-period, have induced the implementation of energy-relevant management and practices, and led to more systematic decision-making processes. Finally, firms for which so-called ‘hidden’ costs, e.g., the costs of production disruptions, are a large concern, will be more energy intense than others.Keywords: energy efficiency; industry; management practices; energy prices; Sweden. JEL Classifications: D22, L23, Q41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.7451
Anna Dahlqvist; Patrik Söderholm. INDUSTRIAL ENERGY USE, MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PRICE SIGNALS: THE CASE OF SWEDISH PROCESS INDUSTRY. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy 2019, 9, 30 -45.
AMA StyleAnna Dahlqvist, Patrik Söderholm. INDUSTRIAL ENERGY USE, MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PRICE SIGNALS: THE CASE OF SWEDISH PROCESS INDUSTRY. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy. 2019; 9 (3):30-45.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnna Dahlqvist; Patrik Söderholm. 2019. "INDUSTRIAL ENERGY USE, MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PRICE SIGNALS: THE CASE OF SWEDISH PROCESS INDUSTRY." International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy 9, no. 3: 30-45.
Despite the key role of actor networks in progressing new sustainable technologies, there is a shortage of conceptual knowledge on how policy can help strengthen collaborative practices in such networks. The objective of this paper is to analyze the roles of such policies – so-called network management – throughout the entire technological development processes. The analysis draws on the public management and sustainability transitions literatures, and discusses how various network characteristics could affect the development of sustainable technologies, including how different categories of network management strategies could be deployed to influence actor collaborations. The paper's main contribution is an analytical framework that addresses the changing roles of network management at the interface between various phases of the technological development process, illustrated with the empirical case of advanced biorefinery technology development in Sweden. Furthermore, the analysis also addresses some challenges that policy makers are likely to encounter when pursuing network management strategies, and identifies a number of negative consequences of ignoring such instruments in the innovation policy mix. The latter include inefficient actor role-taking, the emergence of small, ineffective and competing actor networks in similar technological fields, and a shortage of interpretative knowledge.
Patrik Söderholm; Hans Hellsmark; Johan Frishammar; Julia Hansson; Johanna Mossberg; Annica Sandström. Technological development for sustainability: The role of network management in the innovation policy mix. Technological Forecasting and Social Change 2018, 138, 309 -323.
AMA StylePatrik Söderholm, Hans Hellsmark, Johan Frishammar, Julia Hansson, Johanna Mossberg, Annica Sandström. Technological development for sustainability: The role of network management in the innovation policy mix. Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 2018; 138 ():309-323.
Chicago/Turabian StylePatrik Söderholm; Hans Hellsmark; Johan Frishammar; Julia Hansson; Johanna Mossberg; Annica Sandström. 2018. "Technological development for sustainability: The role of network management in the innovation policy mix." Technological Forecasting and Social Change 138, no. : 309-323.
The objective of this paper is to examine the innovation impacts of renewable energy support policies, and their interaction in the empirical context of solar photovoltaics (PV) technology. This is achieved using data on patent applications for 13 countries over the period 1978–2008, and unconditional negative binomial estimators. The analysis addresses one technology-push instrument, public R&D support, and two demand-pull instruments, feed-in tariffs (FIT), and renewable energy certificate (REC) schemes. The results indicate that: (a) both FIT and REC schemes induce solar PV patenting activity, but the impact of the former policy appears to be more profound; (b) public R&D support has overall been more influential than FIT and REC schemes in encouraging solar PV innovation; (c) policy interaction exists in that the impact of public R&D support on innovation is greater at the margin if it is accompanied by the use of FIT schemes for solar PV. A corresponding interaction effect is harder to detect for public R&D support and REC schemes, possibly due to the stronger technology selection pressure under the latter policy. The results following several robustness tests support the existence of a positive interaction effect between public R&D and FIT schemes.
Kristoffer Palage; Robert Lundmark; Patrik Söderholm. The innovation effects of renewable energy policies and their interaction: the case of solar photovoltaics. Environmental Economics and Policy Studies 2018, 21, 217 -254.
AMA StyleKristoffer Palage, Robert Lundmark, Patrik Söderholm. The innovation effects of renewable energy policies and their interaction: the case of solar photovoltaics. Environmental Economics and Policy Studies. 2018; 21 (2):217-254.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKristoffer Palage; Robert Lundmark; Patrik Söderholm. 2018. "The innovation effects of renewable energy policies and their interaction: the case of solar photovoltaics." Environmental Economics and Policy Studies 21, no. 2: 217-254.
Environmental policy is often formulated at the national level, but the primary responsibilities for policy implementation, monitoring and compliance are often assigned to local actors (e.g., municipalities). This paper investigates the regional heterogeneity of household plastic waste collection among Swedish municipalities, and how collection rates have been influenced by local waste management policies, geographical conditions and socio-economic characteristics. This is achieved by employing spatial econometric methods and cross-sectional data for 282 Swedish municipalities. The results confirm the presence of spatial correlation. Furthermore, municipalities that employ weight-based waste management fees generally experience higher collection rates. The presence of curbside recycling and a high intensity of recycling drop-off stations, i.e., policy measures that help improve the infrastructural conditions for household recycling, also help explain why some municipalities perform better than others. However, the correlations between packaging waste collection and a number of important regional cost variables, such as the distance to the recycling industry, urbanization rate and population density, turn out both statistically and economically insignificant. An important explanation for this could be that the Swedish producer responsibility scheme has offered regionally differentiated (and fixed) monetary compensations to local collection entrepreneurs, and these have typically been higher in high-cost regions. This implies that plastic packaging waste collection in Sweden has been performed in a spatially cost-ineffective manner.
Olle Hage; Krister Sandberg; Patrik Söderholm; Christer Berglund. The regional heterogeneity of household recycling: a spatial-econometric analysis of Swedish plastic packing waste. Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences 2018, 11, 245 -267.
AMA StyleOlle Hage, Krister Sandberg, Patrik Söderholm, Christer Berglund. The regional heterogeneity of household recycling: a spatial-econometric analysis of Swedish plastic packing waste. Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences. 2018; 11 (3):245-267.
Chicago/Turabian StyleOlle Hage; Krister Sandberg; Patrik Söderholm; Christer Berglund. 2018. "The regional heterogeneity of household recycling: a spatial-econometric analysis of Swedish plastic packing waste." Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences 11, no. 3: 245-267.
The literature on policy convergence has identified numerous facets and causal drivers of convergence. Distinguishing four dimensions of convergence (object, benchmark, drivers and directed process) helps clarify why and in what form policy convergence may occur (or not). Thus, depending on, for example, the object of analysis (policy outcome or instruments used), the same empirical case may give rise to opposing assessments. Furthermore, both economic and political drivers are necessary to account for successful policy convergence: economic convergence partly explains why countries may face similar problems, and political mechanisms explain why they might choose similar policies to solve a given problem. This article illustrates the multifaceted character of convergence for the dynamic field of renewable energy policies in the European Union. The empirical results indicate temporary convergence in the case of policy support instrument choices and conditional convergence in terms of renewable shares. However, the results suggest divergence of public R&D subsidies targeting renewables.
Sebastian Strunz; Erik Gawel; Paul Lehmann; Patrik Söderholm. Policy convergence as a multifaceted concept: the case of renewable energy policies in the European Union. Journal of Public Policy 2017, 38, 361 -387.
AMA StyleSebastian Strunz, Erik Gawel, Paul Lehmann, Patrik Söderholm. Policy convergence as a multifaceted concept: the case of renewable energy policies in the European Union. Journal of Public Policy. 2017; 38 (3):361-387.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSebastian Strunz; Erik Gawel; Paul Lehmann; Patrik Söderholm. 2017. "Policy convergence as a multifaceted concept: the case of renewable energy policies in the European Union." Journal of Public Policy 38, no. 3: 361-387.
Bottom-up processes of policy convergence are increasingly discussed as a substitute for the absence of supranational energy policy coordination and harmonization in the EU. The overall objective of this paper is to analyse the development of government support to renewable energy R&D across EU countries over time: does the empirical evidence suggest bottom-up convergence? In order to answer this question, we first construct country-specific R&D-based knowledge stocks, and then investigate whether the developments of these stocks tend to converge or diverge across EU countries. A data set covering 12 EU Member States over the time period 1990-2012 is employed to test for the presence of conditional â-convergence using a bias-corrected dynamic panel data estimator. The empirical results are overall robust and suggest divergence in terms of public R&D-based knowledge build-up in renewable energy technology. This finding is consistent with free-riding behavior on the part of some Member States, and the presence of industrial policy motives in other States in combination with agglomeration effects in the renewable energy sector. Energy import dependence and electricity regulation are found to influence the growth of the R&D-based knowledge stock, and the deregulation of the EU electricity markets has tended to contribute to a lower speed of divergence.
Jonas Grafström; Patrik Söderholm; Erik Gawel; Paul Lehmann; Sebastian Strunz. Knowledge accumulation from public renewable energy R&D in the European Union: Converging or diverging trends? 2017, 1 .
AMA StyleJonas Grafström, Patrik Söderholm, Erik Gawel, Paul Lehmann, Sebastian Strunz. Knowledge accumulation from public renewable energy R&D in the European Union: Converging or diverging trends? . 2017; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJonas Grafström; Patrik Söderholm; Erik Gawel; Paul Lehmann; Sebastian Strunz. 2017. "Knowledge accumulation from public renewable energy R&D in the European Union: Converging or diverging trends?" , no. : 1.
Bottom-up processes of policy convergence are increasingly discussed as a substitute for the absence of supranational energy policy coordination and harmonization in the EU. The overall objective of this paper is to analyse the development of government support to renewable energy R&D across EU countries over time: does the empirical evidence suggest bottom-up convergence? In order to answer this question, we first construct country-specific R&D-based knowledge stocks, and then investigate whether the developments of these stocks tend to converge or diverge across EU countries. A data set covering 12 EU Member States over the time period 1990-2012 is employed to test for the presence of conditional -convergence using a bias-corrected dynamic panel data estimator. The empirical results are overall robust and suggest divergence in terms of public R&D-based knowledge build-up in renewable energy technology. This finding is consistent with free-riding behavior on the part of some Member States, and the presence of industrial policy motives in other States in combination with agglomeration effects in the renewable energy sector. Energy import dependence and electricity regulation are found to influence the growth of the R&D-based knowledge stock, and the deregulation of the EU electricity markets has tended to contribute to a lower speed of divergence.
Jonas Grafström; Patrik Söderholm; Erik Gawel; Paul Lehmann; Sebastian Strunz. Knowledge Accumulation from Public Renewable Energy R&D in the European Union: Converging or Diverging Trends? 2017, 1 .
AMA StyleJonas Grafström, Patrik Söderholm, Erik Gawel, Paul Lehmann, Sebastian Strunz. Knowledge Accumulation from Public Renewable Energy R&D in the European Union: Converging or Diverging Trends? . 2017; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJonas Grafström; Patrik Söderholm; Erik Gawel; Paul Lehmann; Sebastian Strunz. 2017. "Knowledge Accumulation from Public Renewable Energy R&D in the European Union: Converging or Diverging Trends?" , no. : 1.
The green economy policy discourse has devoted a lot of attention to the design of public policy addressing low-carbon technologies. In this paper we examine the impacts of public R&D support and feed-in tariff schemes on innovation in the wind energy sector. The analysis is conducted using patent application data for four western European countries over the period 1977–2009. Different model specifications are tested, and the analysis highlights important policy interaction effects. The results indicate that both public R&D support and feed-in tariffs have positively affected patent application counts in the wind power sector. The (marginal) impact on patent applications of increases in feed-tariffs has also become more profound as the wind power technology has matured. There is also some evidence of policy interaction effects in that the impact of public R&D support to wind power is greater at the margin if it is accompanied by the use of feed-in tariff schemes. These results support the notion that technological innovation requires both R&D and learning-by-doing, and for this reason public R&D programs should typically not be designed in isolation from practical applications. The paper ends by outlining some important avenues for future research.
Åsa Lindman; Patrik Söderholm. Wind energy and green economy in Europe: Measuring policy-induced innovation using patent data. Applied Energy 2016, 179, 1351 -1359.
AMA StyleÅsa Lindman, Patrik Söderholm. Wind energy and green economy in Europe: Measuring policy-induced innovation using patent data. Applied Energy. 2016; 179 ():1351-1359.
Chicago/Turabian StyleÅsa Lindman; Patrik Söderholm. 2016. "Wind energy and green economy in Europe: Measuring policy-induced innovation using patent data." Applied Energy 179, no. : 1351-1359.
This paper analyzes the determinants of energy intensity and tests for convergence across 14 Swedish industrial sectors. The analysis builds on a non-parametric regression analysis of an intensity index constructed at the industry sector level as well as indexes constructed from a decomposition of this index. The latter isolates two key determinants of changes in energy intensity and convergence patterns: energy efficiency improvements and changes in economic output (activity). The empirical analysis relies on a detailed sectorial dataset covering the period 1990-2008. The findings indicate that input prices, including the price of energy, have been significant determinants of energy intensity in the Swedish industrial sectors. This effect can primarily be attributed to the efficiency channel and with a less profound influence from the activity channel. These results suggest that a well-designed tax system could be effective in delivering significant energy efficiency improvements in Swedish industry. We also find evidence of energy intensity convergence among the industrial sectors, and this primarily stems from the activity channel rather than from the efficiency channel. The above implies that during the studied time period Swedish industry shifted away from more to less energy-intensive production, in part perhaps driven by moving energy-intensive manufacturing abroad.
Amin Karimu; Runar Brännlund; Tommy Lundgren; Patrik Söderholm. Energy Intensity and Convergence in Swedish Industry: A Combined Econometric and Decomposition Analysis. SSRN Electronic Journal 2016, 1 .
AMA StyleAmin Karimu, Runar Brännlund, Tommy Lundgren, Patrik Söderholm. Energy Intensity and Convergence in Swedish Industry: A Combined Econometric and Decomposition Analysis. SSRN Electronic Journal. 2016; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAmin Karimu; Runar Brännlund; Tommy Lundgren; Patrik Söderholm. 2016. "Energy Intensity and Convergence in Swedish Industry: A Combined Econometric and Decomposition Analysis." SSRN Electronic Journal , no. : 1.
This paper analyzes the determinants of energy intensity and tests for convergence across 14 Swedish industrial sectors. The analysis builds on a non-parametric regression analysis of an intensity index constructed at the industry sector level as well as indexes constructed from a decomposition of this index. The latter isolates two key determinants of changes in energy intensity and convergence patterns: energy efficiency improvements and changes in economic output (activity). The empirical analysis relies on a detailed sectorial dataset covering the period 1990-2008. The findings indicate that input prices, including the price of energy, have been significant determinants of energy intensity in the Swedish industrial sectors. This effect can primarily be attributed to the efficiency channel and with a less profound influence from the activity channel. These results suggest that a well-designed tax system could be effective in delivering significant energy efficiency improvements in Swedish industry. We also find evidence of energy intensity convergence among the industrial sectors, and this primarily stems from the activity channel rather than from the efficiency channel. The above implies that during the studied time period Swedish industry shifted away from more to less energy-intensive production, in part perhaps driven by moving energy-intensive manufacturing abroad.
Amin Karimu; Runar Brannlund; Tommy Lundgren; Patrik Söderholm. Energy Intensity and Convergence in Swedish Industry: A Combined Econometric and Decomposition Analysis. 2016, 1 .
AMA StyleAmin Karimu, Runar Brannlund, Tommy Lundgren, Patrik Söderholm. Energy Intensity and Convergence in Swedish Industry: A Combined Econometric and Decomposition Analysis. . 2016; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAmin Karimu; Runar Brannlund; Tommy Lundgren; Patrik Söderholm. 2016. "Energy Intensity and Convergence in Swedish Industry: A Combined Econometric and Decomposition Analysis." , no. : 1.
In order to achieve cost-effective RES-E deployment it is often argued that technology-neutral support schemes for renewables are indispensable. Against this background, RES-E support policies making widely use of technology differentiation in remuneration settings, e.g. across the EU, are frequently criticized from a theoretical point of view. However, in this paper we provide a systematic critique of the technology neutrality concept as a foundation for designing policy support schemes in the RES-E technology field. Specifically, the main objective of the paper is to scrutinize the arguments for technology-neutrality, and discuss three conceptual arguments for why technology-specific support schemes could in fact help minimize the societal costs of reaching future RES-E targets. We also briefly address different political economy concerns, which could constrain the choice of cost-effective policy support schemes, and that have to be taken into account for economic policy advice. For empirical illustration of the key arguments we refer to the case of German RES-E support.
Erik Gawel; Paul Lehmann; Alexandra Purkus; Patrik Söderholm; Katherina Witte. The rationales for technology-specific renewable energy support: Conceptual arguments and their relevance for Germany. 2016, 1 .
AMA StyleErik Gawel, Paul Lehmann, Alexandra Purkus, Patrik Söderholm, Katherina Witte. The rationales for technology-specific renewable energy support: Conceptual arguments and their relevance for Germany. . 2016; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleErik Gawel; Paul Lehmann; Alexandra Purkus; Patrik Söderholm; Katherina Witte. 2016. "The rationales for technology-specific renewable energy support: Conceptual arguments and their relevance for Germany." , no. : 1.